by Kelly Moore
I grasp my gun firmly. “Two for the price of one.” I snatch Fiona by the hair. “If you so much as make a peep, I’ll kill her.” I jerk her head back, and Fallon sits up.
“What do you want?” Fallon asks, raising her hands.
“You’re going to come with me.”
“I’ll cooperate if you leave her alone.”
“You’ll do as I say, not the other way around.” I laugh at her audacity, thinking she’s going to tell me what to do.
“I’d rather us both die than you take her. It’s your choice. If you want me alive, you’ll let her go.”
“Fine. She’s caused me enough trouble anyway.” I don’t want to deal with the likes of this wild cat.
“Don’t do it, Fallon. My dad is on his way up. He’ll stop her.”
I turn her in my arms and hit her in the face with my gun. Maxim catches her before she falls to the ground. I direct my aim at Fallon. “Get up. Now!”
She slowly climbs out of bed and walks over to me. “Rebel will find me.”
“That’s the plan. You’re going to walk down the hallway and follow him to the stairwell.” I indicate Maxim with my head. “Don’t think about yelling out or trying to escape. I’ll have this gun aimed at your back the entire time.”
Maxim opens the door and leads the way. Fallon, to my surprise, fully cooperates. She follows him down the stairs without one word. I unlock the van door, and she gets in the back. I climb in with her and Maxim drives.
“I’ll die before I let you hurt Rebel,” she cries.
“How sweet. I don’t want you to die.”
“You have a funny way of showing it when you shot me.”
“If I wanted you dead”—I press the gun to her chest—“I would’ve shot you in the heart, not the stomach. As far as Derrick goes, in the end, he’ll choose me over you.”
“He hates you.”
“Hate is such a strong word. When he hears what I have to offer him, you’ll be a ghost in the wind to him.”
“You’re sicker than I thought,” she says.
“Maybe so, but I’ll have him, not you. You’ve had everything good in life, but you’ll not get the only man I’ve really ever cared about.”
Chapter 4
Rebel
“Lawson, can you hear me? You’re breaking up. I’m getting about every third word.”
“Did…her…storm…Fallon.”
“What about Fallon?” I screech the truck around in the opposite direction. “I don’t know if you can hear me or not, but I checked out both the chopper locations. Nina is not at either one of them, and she wasn’t on their manifest.”
“Fiona…hospital.”
“Shit!” I hang up and call Honor. “Hey, is Lawson with you?”
“No, sir…I.”
“He called me, but our connection was hit or miss, and I couldn’t understand him.”
“Sir, you need to get to the hospital right away.”
“Has something happened to Fallon?”
“I…she…”
“Spit it out!”
“Nina took her.”
I slam on the brakes, and I jerk forward, hitting my forehead on the steering wheel. “What did you say?”
“Someone was with her, and he drugged Mad Dog. Lawson had taken Fiona over for a visit. She was stir crazy, and he thought it would do both the girls some good. Nina struck Fiona in the face with her gun.”
I press the gas pedal all the way to the floor. “Fucking A! How does this happen.? We have a navy SEAL planted at her door, and she kidnaps Fallon!”
“They drugged him, sir.”
“I’ll be there in five minutes. Tell Lawson to stay put. How is Fiona?”
“Banged up, but she’ll be okay.”
“Call Commander Lukas and order a lockdown on the city.”
“Already done, sir.”
“I want military at every small airport in a hundred-mile radius of Portland. She won’t get on a major airline. No planes in the air. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, sir. I’m contacting all the ports to have them shut down too.”
“It’s harder to stop the waterways but the air we can control. Also, put the local police on the Vancouver bridge. Get her picture out to all the major broadcasts. Nobody crosses over into Washington from Portland.”
“I’m on it, sir.”
“Has the extra team arrived yet?”
“They are walking in the door as we speak.”
“Have them stay put. As soon as I’m done at the hospital, I’ll be there to brief them. Have the war room ready. Every picture you can find of our team and Nina needs to be plastered all over the board. I want every bit of information you have on Nina. Bank accounts, properties she owns, where she grew up, everything. You’ll have to dig deep and be creative to outsmart her.”
“Yes, sir.”
I pull up front at the hospital and leave the truck running. I’m in full military garb, so no one stops me. I toss the valet my keys. “Keep it running,” I bark and make it to the elevator doors as they open. I ride it up to the ICU to learn she had been moved to another room. I hike down the stairs and burst through the door of room number 305. Mad Dog is coming to in the bed, and Lawson is standing over Fiona, holding an ice bag to her cheek.
“What the fuck happened?”
“I brought…” Lawson starts.
“Not you, him.” I point to Mad Dog.
“A man larger than me walked by. I was keeping an eye on him, and the next thing I know, Nina was behind him. I went for my gun, but he stabbed me in the neck with a needle.” He rubs the spot on his neck. “That’s the last thing I remember, sir.”
I press the heel of my hands to my forehead. “And, I told you not to leave headquarters!” I all but shout at Lawson.
“It’s my fault. I was stir crazy and wanted to check on Fallon.” Fiona sniffs. “She saved me.”
“What do you mean?”
“She convinced Nina not to take me with her. She said she’d die before she’d let me go. She told Nina she’d cooperate if she’d leave me behind.”
I take a deep, calming breath. “Are you okay?”
She shakes her head.
“I want all of you in my truck right now!” I bark, and they all move. Mad Dog is a little off-kilter, so I lead him by the arm. He jerks it away.
“I can manage.” I know he’s pissed about what happened, and knowing him, he wants his revenge.
I speed through traffic, back to headquarters. “I want all of you in the war room so I can keep an eye on you.” I lead them through the door, straight to the room where everyone is gathered.
“I don’t have time for formal introductions. Have you found out any new information on Nina?” I direct my question at Honor.
“She owns the old lumber facility a few blocks down.” She projects her findings on the big screen.
“That’s how she’s been able to see our every move. You two, go sweep her building.” Two soldiers get up and leave.
“I found her cameras and disabled them,” Lawson says.
“How did she get them installed?”
“It must have been when our system went down, and a crew was sent over to repair it,” Honor adds.
“Find the team that repaired it. Have Commander Lukas question them.”
I place my hands on the table and lean. “What are your names?” I ask the two soldiers that are left.
“Seaman Remington Michaels.”
“Seaman Van Williams.”
“Remington, you’re with me.” I turn to Mad Dog. “You and Williams will stay here and be back up. Nobody leaves this time. You got it?” I point to Lawson.
“Yes, sir.”
“Honor, did you get satellites up and running?”
“They’re running but not much visibility with the storm.”
“I’m sick to death of this goddamn storm!” I slam my fists on the table. “The stakes just got higher with Nina taking Fallon as her pris
oner. We have no time to waste. I want a plan ready to go by the time I get to the airport. Not excuses.”
I march to the weapons room with Mad Dog and Remington behind me. Mad Dog fills my duffel bag with weapons and ammo. “Are you sure I can’t go with you, sir? I have a score to settle with that bitch.”
“Take a number. I know how devious she is and how determined she is when she wants something.”
“I’m sorry, Captain. This is all my fault.”
“Actually, it’s all mine, but that’s about to end. I’m going to play her game, but I’m going to do it smarter than her.” I pick up a gun. “And with force.”
Mad Dog fills a bag with equally as much firepower for Remington. He flings it over his shoulder, and we stop at Honor’s desk before heading out.
“Did you get a plane?”
“Yes, sir. It will be fueled and ready to go. I already texted you the address.”
“Get that satellite as clear as you can, and don’t take your ears off. Keep your eyes peeled and let me know what you see.”
“Our men are pulling up to the port.” She points to one of the screens.
“Good, I’m on my way. Lock this place down behind me,” I order, and Remington follows me out.
I get behind the wheel and drive as fast as I can. The sky is dark and looming, and the wind has picked up. “How long have you been a SEAL?” I might as well get to know the man who is going to have my six.
“Five years, sir.”
“What’s your specialty?”
“Explosives.”
“Setting them or disarming them?”
“Both, sir.”
“I have a feeling before all is said and done, we’ll be utilizing your skill set.”
“Whatever you need, sir.”
“What I need is to stop this woman once and for all.”
Chapter 5
Thorn
We parked a mile from the port and trekked toward it. The wind is blowing the rain horizontally, and it's pouring down so hard it’s obscuring our vision, along with it getting dark outside.
“Honor, can you hear me?” I try the mic.
I get a lot of static before she comes in somewhat clear. “Men have arrived for backup. They’re held up west of the building near a container labeled forty-three. Do you copy?”
“Roger, that.”
“With the storm, I can’t get a visual.”
“We’re going in blind,” I turn to tell Theo and Tate. “Let’s get to the west side of the port to meet our backup.” We change directions and locate container forty-three. One man is on lookout and raises his weapon when he sees us heading toward him. “Stand down. Seaman Thorn Beckham with the Gunner team.” I raise a hand in the air.
“Dagger with Delta Force,” he responds.
“Commander Lukas sent in the big guns,” Tate says.
“How many men do you have?”
“There’s twelve of us. I was instructed to wait for you, then sweep the building. Now that you’re here, we’ll take over the mission. Fall in step with my men.” He opens the container door, and eleven soldiers stand. He points and starts giving out orders. “You two, east side of the building. You and you, west side. You four cover the front, and you three with me in the back.” He turns to us. “One of you a sniper?”
“I am.” Theo steps forward.
“Take her and get on the roof,” he tells him.
“Beckham, I want you to lead my men in the front of the building.” His men nod in understanding. “The goal is to capture, not kill anyone unless absolutely necessary.”
Each team member scatters with weapons ready. The wind is blowing so hard that the metal building creeks sounding like the roof is being ripped off. We make our way to the front and wait for the all-clear.
“Everyone in place?” Dagger is on the radio.
“Yes, sir,” each team member answers, including Theo.
“Sweep the building and meet in the middle.”
A shot rings out as one of the soldiers shoots off the doorknob. The building is stormed in from all sides with lights from weapons peering through it.
“It’s empty,” Dagger says. “Check the upstairs offices and you men”—he points—“I want every container opened and searched.”
“Tate, get down here,” I say over my mic. “She’s our forensic expert. If they left a trace behind, she’ll find it,” I tell him.
“Leave the sniper on the roof in case someone shows up,” he orders.
“Theo, stay where you are. Radio me if you see any signs of movement other than us.”
“Roger.”
“No signs of anyone!” one of his men yells from the top platform of the stairs.
Tate is soaking wet when she walks into the building.
“I need you to find any clue that was left behind.” She nods and starts searching right away.
“It doesn’t look like you’ll need us here unless we find anyone in the containers.” Dagger steps up to me.
“Maybe not here, but stay close by in case we find something.”
Once a thorough search is done, he leads his men out.
“Where’s everyone going?” Theo’s voice is in my ear.
“We didn’t find anything. They’ll be on standby. Get your ass down here.”
A few minutes later, he’s inside the building, dripping water on the floor. He takes his hat off and shakes his head. “It’s raining like a son of a bitch.”
“We’ll make camp here for the night.”
“I found a hidden safe,” Tate yells down from one of the rooms upstairs.
We both take off in her direction.
“It looks like an air vent.” She points, and we walk into an office. There’s an expensive-looking desk sitting in the middle of the room, totally out of place from the decor.
“This has Nina written all over it.” Theo drags his hand on the top of it.
“Search every inch of it.” I walk over to the vent. “How did you know it was here?” I ask Tate.
“By tapping on the wall.” She wraps her knuckles in a few places, and when she gets closer to the vent, the sound dulls. “A vent doesn’t change the sound behind it.”
“Have you tried to open it?”
“I could only remove the vent. I’m not tall enough to reach it.”
I pull a small flashlight out of my gear and aim it at the keypad. I try the numbers that look warn. “It could be any combination of things.” I activate my earpiece again. “Honor, you still there?” Nothing but static answers me. “Captain Rebel.” More static.
“We could blow it up,” Theo says from behind us.
“It might damage whatever’s inside,” Tate responds.
“Anything in the desk?”
“No, not even fingerprints. It’s all been wiped clean.”
“Chances are, whatever was inside the safe is gone too,” Tate adds.
“Maybe, but we have to get inside it. Theo, any of the numbers mean anything to you? Zero, two, seven.”
“It’s usually four numbers to open a safe.” Tate stands on her tiptoes to look.
“Try doubling one of the numbers,” Theo joins us.
“Zero, zero, two, seven. Zero, two, two, seven. Zero, two, seven, seven.”
“Wait, the first one. Change the numbers around, and you have Rebel’s birthday.”
Tate and I look at one another.
“Zero, seven, two, zero.” He flashes his light at the numbers.
“It can’t be that easy.” Tate laughs.
I reach up and push the numbers in order that Theo blurted out, and the safe opens. “I’ll be damned,” I say in disbelief.
“Maybe we all have it wrong, and this is about our fearless leader,” Tate says as I reach up and pull the contents out and lay it on the desk.
“It’s an old journal.” Tate picks it up.
“And two birth certificates. One has Nina’s name on it, the other one says baby girl. Parent’s names are scratch
ed out on both of them.”
“Nina was born in Forks, Washington. That’s roughly four hours northwest of Seattle.”
“This has to be a trap. Why would she leave this behind.” Tate flips through a couple of pages in the journal.
“She didn’t think it would be found. There has to be a link in this journal. Something that will give us the edge over her.” The roof sounds like it’s being lifted by the wind as I speak.
“We need to get out of here,” I say. Tate tucks the journal and the other papers in her backpack. “Let’s make it back to the jeep and find a place out of this storm.”
We take off in a run to the jeep and head north of town. The streets are dead and stoplights are out, swaying by their lines. There’s a small hotel with flickering lights in the window. An old mom-and-pop style place. “Stay here. I’ll get us a room.”
“Two!” Tate yells.
Because of the storm, reservations had been canceled, and I’m able to get three rooms. The couple was sweet and gave me all of them for free. Their son was retired military, and they like to help out whenever they can.
I wave Theo and Tate in from the jeep and toss them each a set of keys. “Get some sleep. I’ll try to get Rebel on the radio.”
“I’m not tired. I’m going to stay up and see what I can learn from Nina’s journal,” Tate says.
We depart ways, and my first stop is a hot shower. When I come out, Theo is sitting on the end of my bed. “How did you get in my room?”
“The old credit card in the door trick.” He chuckles.
“Why are you in my room?” I throw on a pair of sweatpants.
“I was able to reach Fiona on the hotel line. Nina kidnapped Fallon.”
“What the fuck? Rebel was having her guarded.”
“One of Nina’s men drugged Mad Dog. She said Fallon saved her.”
“I bet Rebel is beside himself.”
“He was headed out with a new team member. She said Honor arranged a plane for him, but I doubt he’s getting off the ground in this weather.”
“I don’t know, with Fallon missing, he’s bound to accomplish anything to get her back.” I connect my earpiece. “Captain, you got your ears on?”
